Shear stud

ABSTRACT

A shear stud including a plate section adapted for connection to a structural support element and one or more shaft sections that project from the plate section, the one or more shaft sections adapted to hold concrete in place relative to the structural support element and resist shear loading.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shear studs, and in particular to shear studs used in steal/concrete composite construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shear stud according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plate section adapted for connection to a structural support element; and one or more shaft sections that project from the plate section, the one or more shaft sections adapted to hold concrete in place relative to the structural support element and resist shear loading.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate section and the one or more shaft sections form a unitary structure.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate section and the one or more shaft sections are cold-formed.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate section comprise one or more openings and each of the one or more shaft sections comprise tabs that snap into a corresponding one of the one or more openings.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate section comprises pin openings through which pins are shot for connection to a structural support element.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate section has a rectangular, triangular, circular or polygonal shape.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more shaft sections comprise one or more rows of shaft sections.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the plate section is made of steel.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more shaft sections are made of steel.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more shaft sections each have a length within the range of 3 inches to 8 inches.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the one or more shaft sections each have a diameter within the range of 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches.

A method for connecting a shear stud to a structural support element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: providing a shear stud plate section comprising one or more openings; fastening the shear stud plate section to the structural support element support; and snapping tab elements of each of one or more shear stud shaft sections into a corresponding one of the one or more openings in the shear stud plate section.

A method for connecting a shear stud to a structural support element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: providing a shear stud comprising a plate section and one or more shaft sections extending from the plate section; and fastening the plate section to the structural support element.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the step of fastening comprises shooting pins through the plate section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and related objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following, detailed description of the preferred, albeit illustrative, embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1H are perspective views showing installation of a shear stud according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2C are perspective and cross-sectional views showing installation of a shear stud according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the installation of a shear stud according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4E are planar views of plate sections of shear studs according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-5D are planar views of shear stud assemblies according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6A-6C are perspective views of prefabricated shear studs according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

In composite construction, shear studs are used to tie a concrete slab to steel beams and to resist shear loadings between the concrete slab and the steel beams. In particular, shear studs are conventionally attached to metal decking by welding the shear studs to a structural metal beam through the metal decking. Concrete is then poured over the metal decking and the shear studs function to hold the concrete to the metal decking and resist shear loading. However, the use of welding to attach the shear studs requires the use of ferulles, a welding machine and leads, the use of several workers, and hot work accessories, and also presents fire hazards requiring fire blankets, water and extra insurance.

The present invention is directed to a shear stud that does not require welding for application to metal decking and steel beams. In particular, a shear stud according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a shaft section and a plate section. The plate section may be fastened separately to the metal decking using, for example, pins, and the shaft section may then be snapped or screwed into the plate section to complete assembly. In another exemplary embodiment, the shear stud including the shaft and plate sections may be formed as a unitary structure by, for example, cold-forming.

FIGS. 1A-1H are perspective views showing the installation of a shear stud according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As an initial step, as shown in FIG. 1A, a plate section 10 is positioned at a predetermined location on, for example, a metal decking. The plate section 10 may be made of, for example, steel, and includes an opening 12. As shown in FIG. 1B, the plate 10 is then fastened into place by, for example, shooting pins 14 into the metal decking through the plate 10 using a powder-actuated fastening tool. Suitable powder-actuated fastening tools for use with the present invention are manufactured by Hilti Coporation, of Schaan, Liechtenstein and Powers Fasteners, Inc., of Brewster, N.Y., USA.

After the plate 10 is fastened into position, a shaft section 20 of the shear stud may be snapped into place. In particular, the base portion of the shaft section 20 includes tabs 22 which are shaped to snap fit into the opening 12 in the plate 10. The shaft section 20 may be made of, for example, steel, and may have a length within the range of 3 inches to 8 inches and a diameter within a range of 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches. However, it should be appreciated that the diameter and length of the shaft section 20 are not limited to these ranges. As shown in FIGS. 1D-1G, as the shaft section 20 is rotated, the tabs 22 flex downwards into a groove 16 in the plate 10 until the tabs 22 are able to snap into position. FIG. 1H shows the shaft section 20 attached to the plate section 10 to form a completed shear stud 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the installation of a shear stud according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, a plate section 50 is positioned at a predetermined location on, for example, a metal decking. The plate section 50 may be made of, for example, steel, and includes an internally threaded opening 52. As shown in FIG. 2B, the plate section 50 is then fastened into place by, for example, shooting pins 54 into the metal decking through the plate 50 using a powder-actuated fastening tool. The shaft section 60 of the shear stud may then be screwed into the threaded opening 52. In this regard, the shaft section 60 may include an externally threaded portion 62 that mates with the internally threaded opening 52 of the plate section 50. FIG. 2C shows the shaft section 50 attached to the plate section 60 to form a completed shear stud 40 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the installation of a shear stud according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3A, the shear stud 100 is provided as a unitary structure including a plate section 110 and a shaft section 120. The shear stud 100 may be formed by, for example, a cold forming process. Thus, rather than requiring assembly on site, the shear stud 100 is delivered fully assembled and ready for installation directly onto metal decking. As shown in FIG. 3A, the shear stud 100 is positioned at a predetermined location, and then, as shown in FIG. 3B, pins 114 may be shot through the plate section 110 by a powder-actuated fastening tool.

It should be appreciated that the plate section of the shear stud of the present invention is not limited to a specific shape. For example, the plate section may have a square shape (FIG. 4A), a circular shape (FIG. 4B), a triangular shape (FIG. 4C), or a polygonal shape (FIG. 4D). Further, the plate section may have any number of pin openings and the pin openings may be positioned at any suitable position within the plate section. For example, FIG. 4E shows a circular-shaped plate section having pin openings that are positioned differently than those in the circular plate section of FIG. 4B.

In exemplary embodiments, the plate section may include multiple openings for attachment of multiple shaft sections. In this regard, FIG. 5A shows a plate section having two openings for acceptance of two shaft sections, FIG. 5B shows a plate section having two rows of openings for acceptance of two corresponding rows of shaft sections, FIG. 5C shows a plate section having three openings for acceptance of three shaft sections, and FIG. 5D shows a plate section having three rows of openings for acceptance of three corresponding rows of shaft sections.

In exemplary embodiments, the prefabricated shear stud may be provided with multiple shaft sections on a single plate. For example, a single row of shaft sections may be provided on a single plate (FIG. 6A), two rows of shaft sections may be provided on a single plate (FIG. 6B), or three rows of shaft sections may be provided on a single plate (FIG. 6C).

Now that the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly and limited only by the appended claims and not by the foregoing specification. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shear stud comprising: a plate section adapted for connection to a structural support element; and one or more shaft sections that project from the plate section, the one or more shaft sections adapted to hold concrete in place relative to the structural support element and resist shear loading.
 2. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the plate section and the one or more shaft sections form a unitary structure.
 3. The shear stud of claim 2, wherein the plate section and the one or more shaft sections are cold-formed.
 4. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the plate section comprise one or more openings and each of the one or more shaft sections comprise tabs that snap into a corresponding one of the one or more openings.
 5. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the plate section comprises pin openings through which pins are shot for connection to a structural support element.
 6. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the plate section has a rectangular, triangular, circular or polygonal shape.
 7. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the one or more shaft sections comprise one or more rows of shaft sections.
 8. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the plate section is made of steel.
 9. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the one or more shaft sections are made of steel.
 10. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the one or more shaft sections each have a length within the range of 3 inches to 8 inches.
 11. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the one or more shaft sections each have a diameter within the range of 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches.
 12. The shear stud of claim 1, wherein the plate section comprise one or more threaded openings and each of the one or more shaft sections comprise threaded portions that screw into a corresponding one of the one or more threaded openings.
 13. A method for connecting a shear stud to a structural support element, comprising: providing a shear stud plate section comprising one or more openings; fastening the shear stud plate section to the structural support element support; and attaching each of one or more shear stud shaft sections into a corresponding one of the one or more openings in the shear stud plate section.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of fastening comprises shooting pins through the shear stud plate section.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of attaching comprises snapping tab elements of each of the one or more shear stud shaft sections into a corresponding one of the one or more openings in the shear stud plate section.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more openings in the shear stud plate section are threaded, and the step of attaching comprises mating threaded portions of each of the one or more shear stud shaft sections with a corresponding one of the one or more openings in the shear stud plate section.
 17. A method for connecting a shear stud to a structural support element, comprising: providing a shear stud comprising a plate section and one or more shaft sections extending from the plate section; and fastening the plate section to the structural support element.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of fastening comprises shooting pins through the plate section. 